Link-movement for locomotives



"(No Model.)

S. L. BRANTON. LINK MOVEMENT FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

No 510,885. Patented Dec. 19, 1893.

I WITNESSES: Ill/VENTOR [W/ I -dM-Z6M HE NATIONAL LII'NOGRAFHING COMPANY.

WABHINGYON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL L. BRANTON, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

LIN K-MOVEM ENT FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,885, dated December 19, 1893.

Application filed August 28, 1893. Serial No. 484,254. (No model.) Patented in England July 18, 1892, No. 18,111. and in France October 29, 1892, No. 225,279.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. BRANTON, of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and Stateof Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Link-Movements in Locomotives, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 13,111, granted July 18, 1892, and in France, No. 225,279, granted October 29, 1892;) and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to a new and novel link movement for locomotives, the object being to provide alink movement adapted to overcome the structural irregularities in the operation of the steam valves.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a side viewof the link movement of the locomotive, as usually constructed. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing my improved system as applied to a locomotive. Fig. 4 is an end view thereof. Fig. 5 shows a top view of my improvement, while Fig. 6 shows a perspective of the vertical guide yoke.

The aim of my invention is to provide a mechanical means to overcome the irregularities incidental to the arc travel of the sliding links as connected to the stub arms, as usually employed on locomotives. As the link is carried in the old method in the path of an arc, there is caused a mechanical irregularity in the opening and closing of the connected valves, which entails a loss in steam power, owing to the fact that the valves do not cut off equally at every point, lead not remaining the same for all the difierent adjustments of the reversing lever. By means of an additional yoke and link, I suspend the sliding links in such a manner that as the reversing lever is giving adjustment, these links will mechanically find their own true adjustment and position by virtue of the swinging hangers.

In my present invention, which is adapted to be used in connection with any suitable locomotive, I provide thelocolnotive boiler with the guide yoke d which is preferably secured centrally below the boiler to a suitable transverse yoke plate f. This guide yoke cl is preferably of steel and provided with a suitable supporting flange Z. Centrally, I have provided asuitable guide 0pening2 within which is positioned aduplex trunnion block E provided with the openings 3 and 4, as shown in Fig. 6, adapted to hold the transverse stub shafts 5 and 6. The upper shaft 5 projectsa suitable distance beyond each side of the block E and is provided with hangers b to the lower end of which are movably secured the main links 0 O, as shown in Fig. 4. To these links 0 are secured the usual valve rods 2' as shown. Mounted upon the lower stub shaft 6 are the two movable depending hangers g which are secured at their lower ends to the head of the lifting arm a forming a projection for the transverse main operating shaft A which is provided with the upwardly extending operating arm h to which the operating bar 7: is secured. This main operating shaft A is given suitable support, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of the bearings 7. The upwardly extending operating arm h is preferably secured to the main operating shaft A at one end, as shown in Fig. 5. The connection rods are secured to the links 0 in the usual manner. It will be noticed that the hangers b b are used in pairs and are mounted upon the shafts 5, while the hangers g are also used in pairs, but are mounted upon the lower shaft 6, the lower end of these hangers 9 being secured to the lifting arm a of the main operating shaft. The main operating shaft is connected to the reversing lever in the usual manner. By the arrangement of the instrumentalities as shown in my invention, the sliding links are never forced out of their proper position and readilymechanically find their true adjustment, and

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a locomotive link movement the combination with asuitable yoke plate; of a vertical guide yoke, having acentral opening; a duplex reciprocating trunnion block, working within said yoke and provided with two superposed stub shafts swinging hangers secured to said upper shaft and being movably secured to the slidinglinks of the locomotive, said hangers being used in pairs, the swinged to the sliding links (J O; the movable l1 angers g g secured to the lower stub shaft 6 and removably connected at the lower ends to the lifting arm a; of the main operating shaft A, said shaft being provided with an operating lever, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL L. BRANTON. Witnesses:

ALEX. MOORE, G. W. Suns. 

